If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

Kathryn King Johnson, M.Ed.

I am at a loss now that the term "broke" is politically incorrect. I know the correct terms, joined up, started, backed. But where does that leave the green broke horse? Everyone knows what green broke means. It means the horse has had a saddle, a bridle, and a rider on a few times. He may trot a little. But, now I have to use all those words to describe "green broke?" Or am I supposed to say, "he’s partially joined up," or "semi-started" or "backed a bunch?"

And where does that leave the dead broke horse? Everyone knows what that means. The horse is so well trained, even a beginner can walk, trot, canter and pick up both leads. That’s a lot of words where I would’ve used two. Now what do I say? He’s extremely well joined up? Bombproof? Bombproof is different. The horse may be bombproof but only green broke. Schoolmaster? That’s a fancy schmancy term for an English horse. The pink horse Skunk was dead broke, but he would have a good horselaugh if he heard you call him a schoolmaster.

Breaking a colt (excuse me, a young horse) never meant breaking his spirit. It meant breaking him in to the equipment, the rider, the system, just like we break in a new recruit. It never connoted breaking in terms of destroying something, like "oops, I just broke the new toy." Breaking a colt has always had positive connotations, connotations of experience and expertise. The opposite of broke is unbroke, which never mean wild, free or spirited. Unbroke meant untrained. Breaking is simply horseman’s lingo for initial training.

The horseman’s community has developed its own language over hundreds of years. The words we use are like tools in a tool box, we pull out the best ones to use so we pound the nail with a hammer, instead of a shoe. These terms are part of the culture, and it’s a sad thing to see political correctness deprive us of part of our culture. I say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!